Ryan gaining vital work experience with the Rugby Football League

With many UCFB students aspiring towards a career in the football industry, BA (Hons) Multimedia Sports Journalism student Ryan Booth has opted for a different path by completing invaluable work experience at the Rugby Football League.

With ambitions of a media career within the world of rugby league, Ryan has been working within the media department of the sports governing body to produce a weekly round-up of the University Rugby League.

Delving further into what his role with the Rugby Football League – a UCFB partner – requires, Ryan said: “Each week I have to produce one weekly feature article on a specific game along with a quick summary of the other results too. The main feature requires me having to contact the game’s officials for further details. As an intern I’m also given opportunities to interview high profile people from the sport and go to events like the Super League Grand Final, Challenge Cup Final and Magic Weekend.”

Asked how the opportunity to intern within the media department of the Rugby Football League came about, Ryan added: “I was searching for work experience opportunities within both professional football and rugby league clubs but having little success. I had a conversation with my lecturer and he encouraged me to contact the RFL as they are always keen to offer placements to students. I found that they ran a media placement scheme so I applied and thankfully my application was successful!”

For those students wishing to break into the media industry it is important that they go out and get that work experience to go hand-in-hand with their degree.

Despite having only been working at the Rugby Football League for two months, Ryan has already began to build up his network of contacts as well as his media based portfolio.

Speaking of how he has found his time at the Rugby Football League so far, Ryan said: “My time with the RFL has already been highly beneficial. I’ve learnt how to increase and improve my network and how I go about contacting them in the future. My feature writing is also definitely beginning to improve. The RFL gives me a high profile platform to showcase my work and an opportunity to increase my network within the game.”

Asked finally to speak about where he sees his career heading and how he believes his work experience with the RFL will help him to achieve his goals, Ryan added: “In terms of my career aspirations, the sky is the limit for me. I’d like to work within the department of either a Premiership rugby club or a Super League club. I’ve recently managed to secure a placement at my boyhood club Salford Red Devils and I feel my internship with the Rugby Football League will only help prepare me further for this and my future career.”